Sundance Institute Names 2026 Episodic Intensive Fellows
The Sundance Institute has named its ten virtual fellows for the 2026 Episodic Intensive program, running August 20–21, according to official Institute announcements. The cohort brings together writers from around the globe to workshop original one-hour drama pilots.
Global Scope and the 2026 Episodic Fellowship Cohort
Spanning international coordinates from London and Bali to Toronto and Italy alongside major U.S. hubs like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., the 2026 virtual intensive features nine projects across ten creators. According to the Institute, the fellows participating in the August 20–21 program include Christin Campbell with the Southern sci-fi mystery The Visitation; Lisa Corn with the interstate smuggling drama Ugly Sister; Daphne Di Cinto with the historical Medici series The Moor; Grant Fortune and Ssuuna McKitty with the New Orleans family conspiracy Heavy is the Crown; Courtney Graham with the military-base thriller Nobody’s Horses; Caia Lee with the 2000s Los Angeles noir Skullcrusher; Alejandra López with the speculative political drama The 51st State; Francesco Staluppi with the Viking-era historical drama With Blades of Iron; and Daud Sumolang with the 1920s Java-set period piece Blood and Wax.
Advisors, Industry Mentorship
The intensive provides writers with direct access to showrunners and writing executive producers, addressing the realities of pitch packaging and intellectual property adaptation. Leading up to the virtual dates, programming included a case study on Crave’s Heated Rivalry led by development consultant Emmeline Yang Hankins, a writers room practicum focused on adapting existing IP, and a spotlight event featuring Vince Gilligan via Sundance Collab. Fellows also attended master classes at Rideback Ranch hosted by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, Hasan Minhaj, and Lena Khan.
Creative advisors guiding the writers through one-on-one sessions include Katherine DiSavino (Silo), Tash Gray (Snowfall), Tasha Huo (The Mighty Nein), Don Joh (Sugar), Jeff Melvoin (Killing Eve), Kira Snyder (The Handmaid’s Tale), Brandon Sonnier (Boston Blue), Tatiana Suarez-Pico (Invasion), and Marcie Ulin (The Flight Attendant).
Professional Development and Career Sustainability
Beyond the August intensive, fellows secure long-term benefits including Sundance Film Festival access and entry into ELEVATE, the Institute’s year-round professional development track. ELEVATE arms creators with essential business acumen, pairing private workshops with networking opportunities across the digital Sundance Collab platform.
The Episodic Program receives backing from founding supporters Lyn and Norman Lear and Cindy Harrell Horn and Alan Horn, alongside leadership support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Tena Clark – Dunaway Gardens Foundation, Ann M. Drake, Netflix, and Sundance Now, with additional contributions from prominent industry figures and advisory council members.
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